Shock absorber for oil-well pumps



Jam 10, 192?.

. E. 13ml., ELNLVWAM SHOCK AlSOBBER FR OIL WELL- PUMPS Filed Feb. 2 192'? Patented Jan. 10, 1928.

l'miren STATES 1,656,046. PATENT oFFICE.

lCLAUDE E. coLns'roN, or Moxrr'rnrox, CALIFORNIA.

SHOCK AVBSORBME'RFOR OIL-WELL PUMPS.

Application ined February 2, 1927. serial No. 165,451.

den j ar or stress is brought on the sucker rodV and other rodsleading` from the pump to the surface of the well at each end of the stroke when power is applied in the stroke, that is there is a very heavy strain brought on the rods Ywhen the pump plunger and t-he rods are pulled up-wardly by the action of the walking beam, this frequently causing breakage of the rods. l5

tion of a shock absorber which may be applied Ato a walking beam oro-other equivalent mechanism by whichV the jar orheavy strain-is taken ofi the rods and cable connected thereto and the force isgradually applied to lift and reverse the movements of the plunger or rods and the cable. In one form of my invention I mount a balancing lever on one side 4of the walking beam, this lever having a pivotal mounting to rock in a vertical plane similar to that of the walking beam, and the cable or the like for operating the pump is connected to one end of the lever projecting beyond the walking beam and the other end of the lever is resiliently connected to the walking beam to give a resilient action.

My invention will be more readily understood from the following description and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevationvof a walking beam equipped with my shock absorber.

Figure 2 is a plan view as if taken in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation as if taken in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 2, showing certain features on an enlarged scale.

Figure t is a modification showing the use of a hydraulic or compressed air system for giving the resilient action.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the hydraulic cylinder.

In the drawings the samson post is designated by the numeral 1 having a walking beam 2 mounted thereon to rock on the journal 3. The mechanism for operating the walking beam is not shown as it forms no particular part of my invention.

A bracket l is secured to the end of the attached and a balancing lever 5, also prefer- An object of my invention `isthe construc-r walking beam to which the cable is usually ablyhaving a bracket 6 depending therefrom, y

is connected to the bracket 4 by a pivot pin 7 'Preferably the balancing lever is formed of a pair of outer bars 8 with locks 9 secured therebetween; A cap plate 10 extends across the bars and'has a bolt 11 extending therethrough, this bolt having a head 12 engaging the walking beam. A compression spring 13 surrounds the bolt and bears against the plate 10 and a washer 14, there being an adjusting nut 15 on the top of the bolt. In this manner the desired amount of compression may be utilized in the spring.

At the outer end of the lever is preferably attached what is known asa horse head v16 so that the cable 17', which is att-ached to the outer end of the lever as indicated at 18, may follow the same vertical path in the oscillation of the walking beam. Any other suitable construction may be utilized.

In they construction of Figs. 11 and 5.a hydraulic cylinder 20`is mounted on the inner end ofthe balancing lever and has a piston 21 therein with a piston rod 22 operating through the lower head, this piston rod being pivotally connected to brackets 23 on the walking beam. A by-pass pipe'2i connects the upper and lower parts of the cylinder and has a valve 25 therein for adjusting the flow. f

The manner of operation and functioning of my shock absorber is substantially as follows:

Presuming the pump is at the bottom of the stroke and the beam is actuated to pull up, the reaction of the balancing lever allows the compression of the spring 13 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Thus the shock, jar or sudden strain is removed from the cable and pump rods and the spring gradually releases on the up stroke. The action of the shock absorber maintains a. resilient action at all times in both directions of the stroke `in regard to the apparatus in the well and also the connection from the opposite end of the walking beam to the mechanism which oscillates same.

In the construction of Figs. 4; and 5 if a hydraulic cylinder is used the by-pass will allow slow transference of the hydraulic liquid from one side to the other of the pis ton and thus give a cushioning or shock absorbing action. If compressed air or a compressed gas is used in the cylinder, the bypass may be closed and reliance be made on the compression of the gas.

It will be noted that the bolt ll, Figs. l, 2 and 3, has a slight rocking motion in relation to the beam 2 as the head of the bolt is prete ably made with an arch 19 and bears against a wearing plate 19 secured to the beam.

Various changes may be made in the principles of my invention Without departing from the spirit thereof, as -set *forth in the description, drawings and claims.

I claim:

l. In the art described the combination of a walking beam, a balancing lever pivotally connected to the beam, means to absorb a shock operatively connecting the lever and the beam, and means connected to the lever to operate a pump.

2. In the art described the combination of a walking beam, a balancing leverpivotally connected to the beam adjacent one end, one end of the lever extending beyond the beam, means connected to such end to operate a pump, and a shock absorbing` means interconnecting the inner end or" the lever and the beam.'

3. In the art described the combination o't a walking bea-m, a bracket connected thereto adjacent one end, a balancing lever having a bracket secured to its under side, a pivot pin connecting said brackets, one end of the lever extending beyond the beam, means connected to such end of the lever to operate a pump, and a shock absorbing` means interconnecting the other end of the lever and the beam.

4. In the art described the combination o a walking beam, a balancing lever pivotally connected' thereto adjacent one end of the beam, means to operate a pump connected to one end of the lever, a bolt having an engagement with the beam, and a shock absorbing means between the bolt and the lever adjacent the end opposite the connection to the pump. j y f 5. In the art described the combination of a walking beam, a balancing lever, means forming a pivotal connection between the lever and the beam adjacent one end of the beam, means connected to one end of the levervto operate `a pump, a bolt having a rocking engagement with the beam, and a shock absorbing device interconnecting the bolt and the lever adjacent the end opposite the connection to the pump.

6. In the art described the combination of a walking beam, a balancing lever, means i'orming a pivotal connection between the lever and the beam adjacent one end of the bean'nineans connecting one end of the lever to a pump, a bolt'connected to the beam, and a ,compression spring interconnecting the boltand the lever adjacent the end opposite the connection to the. pump.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication.

CLAUDE E. COLESTON. 

